Another service

Last Sunday I went to an evening service with Missy, the librarian of the school here. She had invited me the week before but I missed her when I went out to help work construction during the day—we weren’t back in time. It was about a 15 minute walk from the compound (which she claimed was a long way) and it wound through many different roads—I’m pretty sure I couldn’t return on my own again (or even leave that evening). We arrived at the Baptist church and went up to sit on the second row. She warned me that they sing a lot. When I told her I like to sing especially when I can follow in my book (so that I know the words) she looked a little panicked. I had brought my hymnal and French Bible but it turns out that the Baptist church uses a different hymnal. She was able to borrow one for me as we went in. We sang and prayed (not the out loud chaos prayers I’ve heard at the Terre Noire church) and then a preacher got up and did a Bible study on Daniel and his dream explanations in Chapters 2 and 7 of that book. I couldn’t follow a lot except for the king had one of the dreams and Daniel had the other and they both involved 4 different empires. 

After that we sang. And she wasn’t joking when she said they sang a lot. We stood and started singing and we continued through at least 7 hymns! We would get to the last chorus of a hymn and the leader would call out the next number and without missing a beat we would continue on! It reminded me of the first time I was in a Central American bar/dance club and the music never stopped—one song just segued into the next one. And there was never a good time to sit down or take a break. Around hymn number 5, Missy noticed that I was flagging a little bit and she told me I could sit down. I thought I’d be able to make it so I held out but when number 6 started I gave in and had a seat. After the congregational  singing a choir got up and gave us two songs and then another preacher got up to give another message but it was time for us to go in order to get me back before my curfew (dark).

As we left I thanked Missy for bringing me. As much as I grumble and complain about going to another service, sitting in the hard pews, and not understanding everything, something touches me each time I go to a service. I come out feeling like it was a good way to spend time-contemplating, singing, and praising…now I just wish that feeling would stay as I get ready for the next service. No matter when that happens I don’t look forward with abundant joy to going to the next…it is an attitude adjustment I need to work on.